MR BIRLING
A proud capitalist who owns a textile factory. Mr Birling wasn’t born into a rich family, but made his money himself. From marrying above his class to his attempts to get a knighthood, Birling is obsessed with climbing the class system. As a result, he’s prepared for others to suffer to achieve this.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
-His speech to Eric and Gerald (Act 1)
-His response to the Inspector when told of his role in Eva’s death (Act 1)
-His defense of Gerald (Act 2)
-His reaction when the inspector leaves
(Act 3)
PURPOSE
Priestley uses Birling to play the stereotype of an uncaring capitalist. The audiences see that it is people like him that made the working class’ lives so difficult. He also add comic relief with his idiotic predictions about war and the Titanic.
STRETCH VOCAB
Arrogant
Hubristic
Egotistical
Capitalist
Patriarchal
Argumentative
Pugnacious
Circumlocutory
Loquacious
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MRS BIRLING
Mrs. Birling is his wife and ”social superior”. This means she was from a higher class and it is shown when she corrects his table manners in Act 1. Mrs. Birling’s higher status is one of the reasons for his insecurity.
SHEILA
Sheila is his daughter and at first their relationship seems good. It soon becomes apparent though that Sheila’s real value to him is to create a business deal with the Croft family. Their relationship goes downhill when he refuses to take responsibility for his actions unlike his daughter.
ERIC
Eric his son openly says he’s “not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble’. He seems to view his son as a disappointment.
GERALD
Gerald is worshipped by Mr Birling. His upper-class status means that Mr Birling will do anything to win his approval.
INSPECTOR GOOLE
Inspector Goole refuses to be intimidated by Mr Birling who says he knows his boss. These two men are opposites designed to contrast each other.